Enhancing the mechanical and electrical properties of irradiated acrylonitrile butadiene rubber/magnetite nanocomposites for electromagnetic shielding applications

By using a traditional roll mill, nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR)/magnetite nanocomposites for electromagnetic interference shielding applications were successfully prepared. The synthesized magnetite nanoparticles were analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) techniques. The results from these techniques emphasis the preparation of Fe3O4 with a diameter range between 3.8 nm and 19 nm. Before and after gamma irradiation at different doses the impact of adding different contents of magnetite nanoparticles in NBR was carefully examined through mechanical and electrical measurements for all samples at room temperature. The mechanical parameters and the electrical properties of NBR were enhanced after adding Fe3O4 nanoparticles. Electromagnetic interference shielding (EMI) for all fabricated nanocomposites before and after gamma-ray irradiation under the same conditions of pressure, humidity and temperature was performed as a promising application for these materials in practical life. The electromagnetic shielding effectiveness (SE) of the prepared samples was measured in the X-band of the radio frequency range. There are three global maxima around 9.4 GHz, 10.4 GHz, and 11.4 GHz. Subsequent reinforcement of Fe3O4 nanoparticles into NBR produced higher shielding effectiveness for radio frequency signals. Furthermore, applied gamma radiation doses improved the shielding properties of the fabricated nanocomposites.